Daniel 5:22

And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;

And thou {H607} his son {H1247}, O Belshazzar {H1113}, hast not {H3809} humbled {H8214} thine heart {H3825}, though {H6903} thou knewest {H3046} all {H3606} this {H1836};

But, Belshatzar, you, his son, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this.

But you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this.

And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thy heart, though thou knewest all this,

Daniel 5:22 delivers a scathing indictment from the prophet Daniel to King Belshazzar, highlighting the king's inexcusable pride and refusal to humble himself despite witnessing God's powerful work in the life of his predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar. This verse serves as a pivotal moment, revealing the root cause of Belshazzar's impending judgment.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse is spoken during Belshazzar's infamous feast, where he audaciously used sacred vessels plundered from the Jerusalem Temple for revelry, an act of profound disrespect towards God (Daniel 5:3). Belshazzar was likely the co-regent with his father, Nabonidus, and grandson of the mighty Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel's rebuke here is particularly sharp because Belshazzar "knewest all this" – he was fully aware of how God had humbled his grandfather, Nebuchadnezzar, transforming him from an arrogant, all-powerful monarch into a beast-like creature, only restoring him after he acknowledged God's supreme sovereignty (see Daniel 4:37). Despite this clear historical precedent within his own family, Belshazzar chose to ignore the lessons and persist in his defiant pride and spiritual blindness.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Unlearned Lessons: The primary message is the tragic failure to learn from history, particularly from the divine interventions of the past. Belshazzar's intimate knowledge of Nebuchadnezzar's experience made his arrogance all the more culpable.
  • The Sin of Pride: The verse underscores the destructive nature of pride, especially when directed against the Most High God. Belshazzar's heart was unhumbled, signifying an inner disposition of rebellion and self-exaltation. This is a recurring biblical theme, where pride often precedes destruction.
  • Divine Accountability: God holds individuals, even powerful rulers, accountable for their knowledge and actions. Belshazzar's judgment was not arbitrary but a direct consequence of his willful defiance and spiritual blindness despite clear evidence of God's power and justice.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "humbled thine heart" refers to a deep, internal transformation – a willingness to submit and acknowledge one's true position before God. The KJV's "heart" here, translating the Aramaic leb (לֵב), signifies not just emotion but the core of one's intellect, will, and moral character. Belshazzar's failure was not merely outward behavior but a profound internal resistance to God's authority and a refusal to acknowledge His sovereignty, even after seeing its demonstration.

Practical Application

Daniel 5:22 offers timeless warnings for all. It challenges us to:

  • Learn from History: Both personal and collective history are filled with lessons from God's dealings with humanity. We must actively seek to understand and apply these lessons, rather than repeat past mistakes.
  • Cultivate Humility: Recognizing God's sovereignty and our own limitations is crucial. As Scripture teaches, God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. True wisdom begins with reverence for the Lord.
  • Avoid Willful Ignorance: Belshazzar's sin was not ignorance, but a deliberate choice to disregard what he knew to be true. We are called to respond to the truth God reveals, whether through His Word, creation, or personal experience, with obedience and humility.

This verse serves as a powerful reminder that knowledge brings responsibility, and those who harden their hearts against divine truth do so at their peril.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 2 Chronicles 33:23

    And humbled not himself before the LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more.

  • Exodus 10:3

    And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.

  • James 4:17

    Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth [it] not, to him it is sin.

  • 2 Chronicles 36:12

    And he did [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD his God, [and] humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet [speaking] from the mouth of the LORD.

  • 1 Peter 5:5

    ¶ Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

  • 1 Peter 5:6

    Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

  • James 4:6

    But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

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